Mary Jo Walker, 89, of Bay City, passed to her heavenly home Sunday, June 20, 2010. She was born in Bay City on June 29, 1920 to the late Thomas Alonzo and Mary Quintilla Hudleston Walker. After the death of her father in 1932, she joined with her mother in 1938 in operating the Southern Seed Store, which later became the Walker Seed and Garden Center. The business was originally established in 1917, as the South Texas Seed Company by T. A. Walker, where he raised vegetable plants at his home and shipped them all over the United States. In 1926 he started the Southern Seed Store in Bay City, selling vegetable seeds and plants. She and her brother, who had joined the company in 1946, continued to operate the business after their mother retired in 1985, up until their retirement in 1994. She was a faithful lifetime member of the 1st United Methodist Church, longtime member of the Fellowship Sunday School Class, and a member of the Ladies Auxiliary, Bay City American Legion Post 11.

Mary Jo was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Dorothy Gertrude Ross; her brother Thomas Alonzo, Jr. and a niece, Jean Anne Ross-Smith.
Survivors include: her brother, Frederick "Fred" Eugene Walker; two nephews, Doug Walker and wife Linda of Montclair, CA and Allen Ross and wife Sallie of Houston; two nieces, Bonnie Ross of Houston and Kay Hanggie and husband Bob of Upland, CA. She is also survived by great-nephews and nieces: Mary Grega and husband Michael of Washington, D.C., Eric Hanggie of Upland, CA, Sam Ross of New York, Susannah Ross of Austin, TX and Melissa Hanggie of Upland, CA; one great-great-niece, Isabelle Ross of New York. She also adored her cats.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday June 22, 2010 at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home. A graveside funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City with Rev. Jeff Gantz officiating.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to: Best Friends, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Knab, UT 84741-5000 or to the First United Methodist Church of Bay City.